Second deportation flight takes off without migrants on board in fresh blow for Starmer
‘One in, one out’ deportation flights cancelled for second day
- A second deportation flight under the UK-France "one in, one out" deal has departed without any migrants, marking the second consecutive day of failed removals.
- Migrants scheduled for deportation issued legal challenges, leading to the cancellation of their plane tickets and deportation notices by the Home Office.
- Downing Street denied that legal action had hampered its plans, and ministers refused to provide specific timelines for future deportations.
- The failures are seen as a setback for Sir Keir Starmer's government, which aims for the deal to disrupt people-smuggling operations.
- Charities have raised concerns about the welfare of detained migrants, including potential victims of torture, trafficking, and modern slavery, as well as issues with screening interviews and legal advice.